The Maryland Legislature adjourned sine die at midnight on April 7. Several bills affecting government affairs were passed through both houses and are waiting on the governor’s desk to be signed. These bills include Senate Bill 945 and House Bill 945. Together, they will change the gubernatorial primary election date to the fourth Tuesday in June. Senate Bill 262 alters the dates for special elections, requiring them to be set within 90 days of being called. Senate Bill 633 allows registered lobbyists to complete ethics training online. These bills will be effective October 1, if signed by the governor.

Lawmakers adjourned abruptly last week on April 4, resulting in many bills being carried over to the second year of the session in 2026. One important passed bill awaiting the governor’s approval is Senate Bill 199. The bill removes the requirement for legislative lobbyists to report semi-monthly during the session. Under this new system only a single monthly report will be required for lobbyists beginning in 2026. The bill also changes campaign finance reporting requirements. Reports for election as well as nonelection years are due January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 20. This does affect lobbying reporting. The final semi-monthly lobbyist report is due April 15.

The 68^th Legislature adjourned sine die on Friday, April 4. The session lasted 89 days with a focus on tax cuts but also included a passed bill affecting the Lobbyist Registration Act. House Bill 398 reorganizes the state’s Sunshine Laws by moving the lobbying provisions within Title 67, Chapter 66, State Government and State Affairs, to Title 74, Chapter 7, Transparent and Ethical Government. The bill also updates the definition of lobbying to clarify both direct and indirect efforts to influence covered officials are considered lobbying. The bill becomes effective July 1.

The 100th session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on March 31. Lawmakers convened for Veto Day and failed to override the two bills vetoed by Gov. Larry Rhoden. The many bills passed during the session included Senate Bill 164, prohibiting the use of a deepfake within 90 days of an election if it does not include a disclosure. Lawmakers also passed Senate Bill 12, prohibiting a candidate or political committee from accepting a loan from a person if the principal amount of the loans and contributions made by the person exceeds the limit the candidate or political committee may accept as a contribution. Other bills passed included House Bill 1264, requiring the disclosure of an outstanding loan balance on a campaign finance disclosure report and Senate Bill 89, repealing the requirement that judicial officers be listed on a separate nonpolitical ballot.

The 2024 regular session of the General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 28, marking the last official action inside the Capitol for the next few years during a restoration project. Lawmakers will convene in a temporary structure on the Capitol campus during the project. Passed bills include House Bill 45, prohibiting foreign nationals from making campaign contributions; establishing reporting requirements for political issues committees and independent expenditures; and requiring a “paid for by” disclosure for ballot measure advertisements. Lawmakers also passed Senate Bill 4, creating standards and guidelines for using artificial intelligence in state government and elections and requiring any electioneering communication using synthetic media to include a conspicuous disclosure.

The Mississippi Legislature adjourned early following tensions between the House and Senate concerning the state’s budget. The House adjourned following the Senate’s decision to ignore a deadline set by the House to consider extending the session. This decision puts the responsibility onto Gov. Tate to call a special session prior to July 1 so that both houses can reach an agreement. This does affect lobbying reporting. The lobbyist end-of-session-activity report is due 10 days after the legislative session adjourned.

The Maine Legislature adjourned sine die on March 21 after the passage of a budget for the next biennium. The Legislature was unable to secure the two-thirds majority required for the bill to be considered an emergency measure, which would have allowed the budget to take effect immediately after the governor’s signature. Without an emergency designation, all bills take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns. With the adjournment, the budget and other non-emergency bills will take effect June 20. After approving the budget, Gov. Mills signed a proclamation calling the Legislature to reconvene March 25 for a special session.

The New Mexico Legislature adjourned at noon on March 22 after 60 days in session. During the session, lawmakers passed a bill requiring lobbyists to file activity reports disclosing their stances on legislation, and, if positions change, to update their stances within 48 hours. House Bill 143 is being transmitted to the governor’s desk for signature. During a news conference following the Legislature’s adjournment, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham indicated a special session to address public safety is likely in the aftermath of a March 21 mass shooting in Las Cruces.

The 68^th Legislature adjourned sine die on Thursday, March 6. The session lasted 37 days with 165 passed bills, including five overrides out of the seven vetoes by Gov. Mark Gordon. Initially, there was a focus on election bills but only one bill regarding a prohibition on the distribution of unsolicited absentee ballot request forms has received the Gordon’s signature.

The 2025 session of the Virginia General Assembly adjourned sine die on February 22, and lawmakers managed to pass several budget bills. These include funding for material health, disaster relief, and school nutrition. Gov. Glenn Youngkin is expected to call a special session on April 2 for lawmakers to discuss federal jobs and funding in the wake of President Trump’s sweeping executive orders. This does affect lobbying reporting. The lobbyist gift notification to public officials is due March 15.

Gov. DeSantis has called for a special session on February 11 to try again to enact sweeping immigration reform. Following the abrupt ending to the last special session, DeSantis again called on lawmakers to pass an aggressive bill that will address illegal immigration in the state.

Gov. Lee called for a special session on January 27 to address the Education Freedom Act, disaster relief for Hurricane Helene, and public safety measures related to illegal immigration. The Education Freedom Act aims to establish scholarships, increase teacher pay and bonuses, and increase funding for K-12 education. The Hurricane Helene relief will include upwards of $400 million allocated to various programs to provide immediate and long-term disaster relief to those effected by the hurricane. Finally, public safety measures for illegal immigration are being prepared to coincide with the federal policy planned implementations.

The 135th General Assembly adjourned on December 18, until Monday December 23, 2024, after a marathon session lasting two days.

With not many days left in this legislative session, lawmakers have likely completed most of their work.

One bill affecting campaign finance was passed during the special session in May and June of this year.

Special Session Amended Substitute House Bill 0001 prohibits individuals and certain entities from knowingly soliciting or accepting political contributions or expenditures from a foreign national. The lone ethics bill intended to enact the Ethics and Financial Disclosure Reform Act, changing the ethics laws for public officials and employees and reporting requirements for lobbyists, never made it out of committee.

The 136th General Assembly will convene on January 6, 2025.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly concluded work for the 2023-2024 legislative session on November 13.

Lawmakers introduced but failed to pass bills related to lobbying and campaign finance.

The Legislature will formally adjourn on November 30 and is scheduled to convene the 2025-2026 legislative session on January 7, 2025.